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2012 NFL Preseason

Replacement Officials Muff Punt Call

By John Fennelly | Aug 30, 2012 | 9:02AM

It's hard to beat up on the replacement officials since they're being thrown into a difficult situation. Not our problem. Fans still payed full price last night and advertisers didn't get a discount.

The game had no bearing in the standings, so we can laugh about the comical ongoings we've seen thus far. But as the regular season nears, I fear we may be in for more moments like the one below.

Last night in the second quarter, the officials showed their ineptitude and inexperience during a punt play in which several penalties were called. Only problem was they had no idea what they were, which team they were on and the players who committed them. It took approximately five minutes for them to sort it all out.

NFL Preseason: Giants 6, Patriots 3 Final

By John Fennelly | Aug 29, 2012 | 10:02PM

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As expected, tonight's final preseason game was played mainly by the backups. The Giants were missing seventeen players due to various injuries and ailments, including seven starters on defense. The Patriots put only one starter in bounds: OL Sebastian Vollmer.

The first string offense - which played into the second quarter - was sluggish, especially the running game. Eli Manning threw for only 29 yards on 4-for-8 passing. Rookie RB David Wilson had a mere 13 yards on eight carries.

WR Hakeem Nicks made his preseason debut and caught a six-yard pass over the middle from Eli and exited shortly after.

NFL Preseason: Giants 3, Patriots 3 End of Third Quarter

By John Fennelly | Aug 29, 2012 | 9:10PM

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The Giants tied the score at 3 on a 34-yard FG by Lawrence Tynes after going on 13 play, 64 yard drive to start the second half.

RB Andre Brown rushed for 52 yards and caught a swing pass from David Carr for another 9 yards on the drive. WR Ramses Barden had two receptions in traffic for 13 yards. He had another reception was negated by a penalty. Barden has four receptions on the night for a total of 31 yards with a long of 15.

NFL Preseason: Patriots 3, Giants 0 Halftime

By John Fennelly | Aug 29, 2012 | 8:28PM

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Inexplicably, Eli Manning came out for the first series of the second quarter along with the majority of the first team offense. They went three and out. Eli did not look to be on the same page with several of them. He went 4-for-8 for 29 yards. The running game looked paltry again. Rookie RB David Wilson had only 13 yards on eight carries.

The defense entered the game without seven starters: their top four DEs, LBs Michael Boley and Mathias Kiwanuka and CB Prince Amukamara.

The Patriots scored the only points of the half on a 20-yard FG by Stephen Gostkowski after a?12 play, 51 yard drive in early part of the second quarter. On third and goal, LB Mark Herzlich continued his strong preseason play stuffing Pats RB Brandon Bolden at the line and forcing the FG.

NFL Preseason: Giants 0, Patriots 0 End of 1st Qtr

By John Fennelly | Aug 29, 2012 | 7:37PM

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A sparse crowd assembled at MetLife tonight. A nice Wednesday night in the summer, but this game with little meaning must have kept hoards away. ?The Giants kept their first team offense in for the entire period, which Tom Coughlin said he might do. They had three possessions all resulting in punts.

On 3rd and 5 from the Giants' 45, Eli Manning was sacked for a 14-yard loss by Pats' backup DT Jerome Cunningham who ?simply blew past G Mitch Petrus. He hasn't looked good this summer and that doesn't help his cause. Petrus started for Chris Snee who sat out with a sore leg.

On another third down deep in Giants' territory, WR Victor Cruz got behind the defense, but Eli under threw him. Seemed like a broken play to me.

Fennelly's Five for Week 2 vs the Jets

By John Fennelly | Aug 18, 2012 | 12:23PM

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Giants-Jets used to be the be-all, end-all but these days the rivals are more like partners. The game is fun for fans, but business for everyone else. Both teams have questions that need to be answered, and the rivalry is kind of taking a backseat to more pressing issues. The Jets have some interesting new faces (I'm sure you've heard) as well as the Giants and this game is all about getting from 90 to 53 players.

I know many writers have said that LB is a focal point, but with Michael Boley (hamstring) and Jacquian Williams (hip) still out, it doesn't appear any decisions will be made soon. Keith Rivers will start for Boley at WLB, ?Chase Blackburn will start in the middle and Mathias Kiwanuka will line up at SAM. Mark Herzlich is being groomed to be the MLB of the future and he will see significant action tonight. The team also likes Spencer Paysinger at WLB, but Rivers apparently has leapfrogged over him on the depth chart.

Since everyone is putting their two cents in on what to focus on tonight, let me join the fray from the Giants side....